Easter Cellar Raids -
Rest of Europe

Expect a deep ruby colour in the glass with intense ripe fruit aromas of plums, redcurrants, raisins with liquorice and clove spice. Wild flowers are noticeable on the palate combined with subtle savoury spice notes and a breadth that has come from the 6 years ageing. Tannins are present but incredibly well integrated and with an attractive suppleness.

The Les Maynes always feels quite spicy, the 2016 also displays a wonderfully floral and red berry perfume that lingers for some time on the finish. The palate is tightly wound with great vibrancy, energy and fine grained tannins.

From 40 year old vines right at the top of the slope, where the forest starts. It’s very cool and shy, but there’s remarkable breadth and focus. Tightly coiled, mineral, and savoury, this is one for the long haul.

Flint Vineyard’s 2022 Pinot Noir Précoce, is made from an early-ripening clone of Pinot Noir that was hand harvested in September and October from their own small parcel and from Martin’s Lane vineyard in Essex. A dry and hot summer provided small bunches with more tannin and flavour concentration than usual. Fifty percent whole-bunch is used here, leading to a light, crunchy and aromatic style – a baby Burgundy if you will, full of rich, cherry aromas. The palate is wonderfully textured, with smooth, fine-grained tannins, packed with gorgeous blackcurrant and cherry fruit and a hint of sweet spice.

Klingenberg is one of the western villages of Franken and is made up of grapes coming from the Grand Cru Schlossberg vineyard. The vineyard is one of their warmest sites and as aresult the wine is spicy and juicy in its profile. As well as purple fruit, expect ripe red plum and cherries. Tannins are chalky and extremely well integrated into the wine's juicy and rich core. Very long length.

Grapes are sourced from Müller’s exceptional estate holdings in Wiltinger Braunfels, Oberemmeler Rosenberg and Saarburger Rausch. The 2022 has a ripeness of fruit and displays juicy peach and fresh apricot combined with a juicy acidity as well as lime and steely notes with this beautiful off dry style of Riesling.

Brambles and rich dark berried fruits combine with savoury spice and crushed stone and hints of black olive and rosemary. There is an intensity and concentration that is supported beautifully with fine grained but firm tannins.

This wine is comparable in quality to the Grosse Gewächs level Spätburgunder from this estate. Expect the spiciness of Krauterberg, a breadth and creaminess of Sonnenberg and a minerality and complexity that you would associate with Herrenberg and Mönchberg. This wine has a delicious red berry perfume that is reminiscent of some of the best Pinot noir in Germany and beyond. Wild strawberries, jasmine tea and spice are the main charcteristics that shine in this wine. The tannins are tight knit and there is great tension on the core thanks to the crisp acidity and silky palate. The wine has an innate quality that you can enjoy now or will develop and age for many years to come.

This Vermut is made with a mix of Fino sherry and sweet Moscatel infused with botanicals and herbs that present themselves on the aroma profile. Expect rosemary, juniper, sage, chamomile and citrus notes with a grapefruit pithiness on the palate.

Lovely lift and energy here, displaying a ripeness and juiciness to the palate. Yellow peach and some greengage are evident, and there’s also some spice that lingers on the palate. Very juicy and fine boned, with a silkiness on the finish.

2020 was characterised by a warm summer, yet temperatures over the growing season were relatively cool and therefore the wine has a fantastic juxtaposition of concentration and weight combined with an energy and purity that you come to expect from the very best Mosel Rieslings. Jasmine, lime and white peach aromas are supported with a lively acidity and almost steely profile. Subtle perfume notes of verbena and mint add layers of complexity.

Les Tosses has more bramble and black berry fruits compared to the other cuvées, it has an incredible sense of place with wild herbs and wild flowers in the background. With a mineral core, the tannins are extremely well integrated and fine.

Brioche aromas combine with toasted hazelnut and red apples on the nose. The palate is packed full of dried citrus and wonderful lemon concentration with hints of tropical fruit. Impressive depth and texture, whilst remaining precise and elegant. Excellent.

Made from 100% Malvasia and aged for 20 years. Incredibly decadent and rich with masses of complexity and a persistent freshness so typical of fine Madeira. Berry fruit, leather, dried figs, coffee, citrus peel, caramel, and brown sugar. Perfect to pair with cheese or desserts or try as an aperitif.

This is a benchmark Riesling from Sebastian, and shows why his whites should be mentioned in the same breath as his world-class reds. Dry and mineral, with salinity that shines through on the palate, there’s a layered character here that keeps you reaching for more. There’s maybe even a blackcurrant note on the long and floral finish. This is so complex, and so impressive.

The cooler climate makes this wine steely on the attack and display green apple, lime and and steely notes supported by hints of jasmine. The core is linear and crisp and very focused.

The Rothenberg in 2020 is a drop-dead gorgeous Riesling. It ripples with tension and drive, but has a little more creaminess than in some vintages, making a really delicious, approachable wine. Don't underestimate this wine's ability to age, though. This will go on and on and on.

At approximately 40 hectares, the Setzberg vineyard is the largest single vineyard in the Hirtzbergers’ home village of Spitz. And it’s a dream site for Riesling. The 2022 Setzberg is full of passionfruit and lime aromas, some white peach on the palate, and a spine of racy acidity. This is long, complex, and livelier than a Cocker Spaniel. Don’t miss it.

2010 was a benchmark year at Wiston: a vintage of perfect balance between yield & ripeness of fruit, which produced extraordinarily complex and elegant wines. This limited-edition, single vineyard, 100% Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs has savoury layers of mushroom, spice and truffle with notes of lemon zest, biscuit and crushed oyster shells. Generous and very long. A wonderful example of how beautifully English Blanc de Blancs can age.

Sebastian may be best known for his Pinot Noirs, but this is a spectacular Chardonnay. Apple fruit and lots of complexity, with some spice and a mineral finish. Delicious.

2020 is an exceptional vintage for Kabinett and the prized site of Wehlener Sonnenuhr simply excels. Expect jasmine, white peach and flinty notes along with a racy core.

A wine coming from old vines, it shows immense concentration and character. Struck match reduction combines with white blossom and red apple and hints of honey and wax. There is a salinity on the finish and there is a zesty acidity that brings vibrancy to the palate.

Wild flowers, red berries and crushed gravel notes are supported by crunchy fruit and acidity as well as powdery, restrained tannins. Subtle black pepper and liquorice spice present themselves on the finish.

From the oldest vines on the estate (alte reben means old vines), this is a wine that wows with its intensity, power and structure. Notes of thyme and a pure core of blue and red fruit are encased in wonderfully refined tannins. And it’s the length that really marks this wine out as special: it’s detailed, pure, and incredibly long. Spectacular.

The quartzite and red stones give more roundness and texture. The 2022 is wonderfully mineral with a saltiness to the finish. The palate displays an energetic acidity as well juicy stone fruit flavours, a wine that will not disappoint

This wine comes from the lower terraces of the Achleiten vineyard at around 300 metres and is largely planted on loess and white sand. Juicy in its profile with hints of jasmine and wild herbs, expect fresh apricot, peach and lemon citrus notes with a racy acidity and salty finish.

A wine that is fermented and aged in premium Stockinger barrels, with 17 months on lees to give the palate more weight and texture. Attractive reduction and flinty on the nose with white pepper and white blossom adding layers of complexity. The acidity is crisp and energetic and balanced perfectly with the creaminess on the finish.

Named after the Poniente winds, these sherries are produced from the el Aljibe vineyard in Pago Añina, and aged in a restored house tucked among the vines. Complex layers of dried fruits, salted almonds, hazelnuts and candied orange peel.

Some of the vines here were planted in the 1950s, with a small portion in 2002. This is intense and stony, with more vibrant acidity than the Spitaler. It’s more angular in the mouth, with lots of wild flowers and plenty of nervy acidity. It needs time, but when it comes together it will be spectacular.

This wine is precise and finishes on the saline and citrus. There are elements of juiciness with fleshy peach, mandarin and white blossom notes as well as smoky and flinty notes that add layers of complexity.

Expect liquorice spice, garrigue and smoky notes that are typical of these wines with concentrated red berry perfume and pomegranate thanks to the 100% Garnacha. The palate is silky and the tannins are supple and fine grained, there is a wonderful energy and freshness to the core and the length is long.

Braune Kupp is a warmer site compared to Egon’s Scharzhofberger and it displays more ginger and spice, with florals and citrus notes taking a more supporting role. There is a juiciness and breadth on the core, a wonderfully enticing wine that is very easy to drink.

Honeysuckle and plenty of freshness. This has kiwi fruit and also plenty of yellow plums and some verbena. Wonderful poise.

The 2017 Ardanza is another showstopper from La Rioja Alta. The grapes come from three vineyards in the Rioja Oriental region that are 30 years+ old and benefit from 550 metres altitude. The Tempranillo (80%) and Garnacha (20%) blend spends 3 years in American oak barrels prior to bottling. Expect wild flowers, cherries and raspberries combined with liquorice, clove and dill spice. Tannins are juicy and firm and the acidity is wonderfully refreshing.

Expect bright, wild berry fruits from Pegel 735 with lots of energy and a very quaffable wine indeed. Rescued by H.O Spanier is more smoky in style with a signature bacon fat character from Stodden's wines. The wine is more brooding in profile with a zesty acid profile. Alexander Die Grossen is the Grand Cru wine that has an attractive perfume and presents jasmine tea and wild strawberry notes that continue for a long time on the palate.

Grapes are coming from the oldest vines of this plot and contributes to the wine's concentration. There is a density on the palate combined with a mineral backbone and saline quality. There is an exotic profile on the nose of mango and papaya, yet this plays a supporting role to pink grapefruit and lemon.

Always on the tropical spectrum, the wine demonstrates a pepper spice as well as honey blossom and ginger notes. The concentration and ripeness is well balanced with purity and unflinching acidity.

This is a focused wine that displays great minerality and focus. The acidity is nervy and the aromas are steely and flinty with a lime citrus core and a delicious concentration and length.

This comes from a small plot of the oldest vines, and was first produced in just 2017. It balances richness and elegance, with all the concentration of a Grosses Gewächs Riesling from a top grower.

From a single vineyard Grand Cru (Grosse Lage) site that is due south and is made up of sandstone and loam. One of the standout wines from Sebastian's range, this is a riesling that expresses white peach, lemon and white florals. The core is tightly wound, bone dry and displaying a pithy grip on the finish that helps provide structure.